VOLLEYBALL TEAM'S SPRING SEASON STARTS THIS WEEKEND AT MEMPHIS

March 20, 2014

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team plays its first of four spring tournaments this weekend when it travels to the University of Memphis.

The Skyhawks return nine players from 2013, including six players who saw time in 30-plus matches. UT Martin is relatively healthy heading into the spring season, as eight of the nine returnees are set to take the court this weekend.

“This spring season will be beneficial because it gives us more opportunities for our younger players to see valuable court time,” Skyhawk head coach Darrin McClure said. “It allows us time to fine tune our fundamentals and see how our changes to our system work out for us.”

UT Martin began practicing for the spring season in early February. The Skyhawks will take on Memphis, Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Christian Brothers this weekend, followed by several tough teams in a tournament hosted by Louisville on March 29. A tournament at Murray State featuring Belmont, Middle Tennessee and Southeast Missouri then follows on April 5 before UT Martin hosts a tournament that features Murray State, Southern Illinois, Bethel and Union.

The UT Martin tournament on April 12 is the first spring tournament hosted by McClure and will be played in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center because of ongoing renovations at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

“Our numbers are good this year,” McClure said. “We have worked hard this spring and have had some long, arduous practices so we welcome the competition.”